Integrating Pet Spaces & People Places in Landscape Design

By Kristen Beckman

People invest a lot of time, money, and effort into their landscaping. So when a beloved furry family member tears it apart, it can be frustrating.

Deryn Davidson, horticulture extension agent for Colorado State University, recommends working with your pets’ habits – both good and bad – when creating functional spaces for pets that are also beautiful for people.

“If you think about it, dogs use the yard all year round. They’re usually outside in the yard more than any other member of the household,” said Davidson during a monthly CSU Extension gardening webinar on petfriendly landscaping. “They know the good spots to hang out in the shade. They know the good spots to be in the sun in the winter. So we want to think like they think.”

First things first, Davidson recommends creating a site analysis that takes into account what type of pets you have, whether they lounge a lot or run around, if they have high energy, like to jump or dig or bark. Use these elements to draw a plan on paper that defines areas where your pet is allowed and spaces that are off limits.

Next, think about materials you can use to physically create those spaces, giving careful thought to how your pet might interact with those materials, Davidson said. Mulch, for instance, is great for plants, but dogs can easily kick bark, shredded wood, and pea gravel out of plant beds, and cacao husk can be toxic to dogs. Rock mulch usually stays put better, said Davidson, although granite has jagged edges and can injure dogs’ feet.

Patio pavers can be great for defining spaces, but they can soak up heat and be slippery when wet. Steel edging can be sharp, especially where segments meet. Davidson recommended considering alternatives like brick pavers, concrete blocks, and plastic edging.

Incorporating plants into a landscape design is critical for making the finished design aesthetically pleasing and functional for both humans and pets. However, many plants are toxic to pets, including boxwood, chrysanthemum, chokecherry, daffodils, and sweet pea.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that your pet is going to have huge issues and you can never ever plant it, but it’s good to have awareness,” said Davidson. She also pointed to houseplants like monstera and split leaf philodendron that cats might like to sample but can make them sick.

Backyard composting is popular for gardeners, but it can inadvertently give curious dogs access to materials that might be dangerous to them, including coffee, grapes, mushrooms, and mold.

Landscaping elements can be useful to mitigate existing damage caused by negative pet behavior, including digging and chewing, as well as urine spots. Using texture (think pokey, thorny or smelly material) discourage animals from entering certain areas. Plants that are known to be effective deterrents are lavender, juniper, yucca, barberry, and mahonia. Ornamental grasses are also good deterrents.

“If it’s not fun for you to garden around, it’s probably not going to be fun for an animal to move around in,” said Davidson.

Burying chicken wire or planting climbing vines on lattice along a fence line can deter dogs determined to dig their way out. And for the age-old problem of urine spots in grass, which is caused by high concentrations of nitrogen and salts, Davidson said your best bet is to create a designated potty spot or increase irrigation in problem areas.